MFP m477FNW loses connection when router drops Wi-Fi, M477 does not re-establish wireless status

[JeffOstroffFL]

I have this very annoying problem with my new HP Color Lasertjet Pro MFP m477FNW wireles sprinter.

It connects perfectly to my wireless home network and prints wirelessly.

But I keep encountering this problem where if my home network router temporaarily drops the Wi-Fi signal, then comes back on, the printer will then remain offline and never re-establishes the wireless connection. I always have to power off the printer and power on to get it to re-connect to wireless.

When this failure mode occurs, the Connection Information icon at the upper right of my printer's LCD screen has an orange warning triangle indicating something is wrong with the wireless connection, even though the network is already back up and running wirelssly, and in the wireless network status menu on the control panel of the printer, it shows status is off for the wireless.

Makes no sense, as long as you have wi-fi, the status should not be off!

So the printer sits there waiting  all day, does nothing if you try to print, until you power down then power back up the printer, then the pritner re-establishes its connectio to the wi-fi signal and the wireless connection information icon shows the connection is active. Then it's business as usual with me printing again. 

Quesiton is how do we make the printer automatically reconnect to the wi-fi when it comes back up?

All my phones and iPads reconnect. Many of us have problematic internet service at home, and it can drop a few times per day, so this is unacceptable to have a printer that cannot bounce back after getting bounced off the network when a router drops the wi-fi.

These HP wireless printers should be jus tlike our phones and auto-connect when it sees our home wi-fi.

Any suggestions?

[sabretooth04 · Accepted solution]

First you need to fix your router dropping your WiFi signal first. 

These settings are for setting up your wireless or wired printers to:

* Stay connected to your router
* Fix printer ‘offline’ status
* Wake from sleep mode
* Speed up wireless printing

While DHCP is convenient, devices such as printers (wired and wireless) should always be assigned a static (fixed) IP address manually to avoid conflicts on your wireless network and MUST be outside the DHCP range of the router. This is because printers are the only external devices that do not have the ability to automatically interrupt the router for a new DHCP address once the least time expires.  

After setting the static IP, the computer(s) must be updated under Printer Properties/Ports to show a Standard TCP/IP port with the printers’ new static IP address.

1. Set a static IP in the printer outside the DHCP range of the router (check your manual).  This static IP is important as DHCP IP addresses will change upon different power up sequences of your devices.  You always want your printer to come up with the same IP address all the time.  See how to do this here:

http://www.watchingthenet.com/linksys-tip-assign-static-ip-address-to-printer-while-using-dhcp-on-yo...

This is for Linksys routers but can be used for all routers. Verify your DHCP range and change this first if needed.  After setting the static IP, the computer(s) must be updated under Printer Properties/Ports to show a Standard TCP/IP port with the printers IP address.  

To see why this problem exists and how to fix it, watch this video here for Windows.   Scroll down for MAC information.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEqvUKxWmq4

How to set a Standard TCP/IP port.  This is important.

a.    Click Start/Devices and Printers.  Right click on your HP Printer.  Select Printer Properties.  Select the Ports tab at the top.
b.    Select Add Port.  Select Standard TCP/IP Port.  Select New Port.
c.    Follow the Add Port Wizard.  Under Printer Name or IP Address, input the Static IP address you just set from the above information.  Example:  192.168.1.15.  The IP address will be copied under Port Name.  This is OK to leave this alone or you can put in your Printer Model.
d.    Select Next and Finish the Wizard.

If you create a TCP/IP port without a static IP above, you may lose your TCP/IP connection and have the same issue. This is because your network has powered up differently giving you a different DHCP address to the printer that does not match the TCP/IP address above.  This could occur at anytime just like the video shows.

For MAC PCs perform the above Static IP setting in the router and then watch here on how to perform your IP setting for MAC computers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5tNFjEBDOw

By performing the above, the printers Embedded Web Server (EWS) will now work all the time by going to your Printers Static IP address in your browser.  

2. Verify in the printer that 'Auto Off/Sleep/Energy Saving Mode' is disabled and/or the System Mode Time Out is set to zero (0).  Use the Embedded Web Server (EWS) by going to the printers IP address in your browsers address bar, click Settings Tab/Auto Off, or use the Printer Assistant, Printer Home Page (EWS). Also check your Printer Properties. This feature is automatically disabled when the printer is connected to a computer or mobile device, a network, or a fax line (if supported) you may not find this setting.

3. If the printer supports and has IPv6 enabled, disable IPv6 in the printer.

4. Make sure printer is plugged directly into a wall outlet and not into a UPS, power strip or surge protector. This will cause the printer to drop offline and disconnect (yes verified!).

5.  Make sure your printer and router are at least 5 feet apart from each other.

Additional steps to be taken if you continue to have the problem (if they are posted)…

[JeffOstroffFL]

sabretooth04 thanks for detailed response, now I see exactly what the problem is and I'll look into setting my printer to a static IP.

After researching on YouTube after you posted above, I see that IT departments have been dealing with this issue for years now. Too bad they can't make network devices more dynamic in seeing each other and recognizing each other better. If a printer ends up on a different IP, the network devices ought to be able to say "Oh yeah, I know you, you're the printer!".

So much for artificail inteeligence in the 21st century! How the heck do they expect us to beam people to other starships in the 24th century! Would hate to get that IP address wrong!